By Catalina Maria Johnson, Chicago Reader The third release by Gustavo Cortiñas, Desafío Candente (“Incandescent Defiance”), is an epic set of jazz and spoken word inspired by Las Venas Abiertas … Read More
By Bill Meyer, Chicago Reader When the word “academic” is applied to jazz, it’s not necessarily a compliment. But these three players, all of whom teach at universities, make music … Read More
Izzy Yellen, Chicago Reader For all the contributions that bassist and composer Matt Ulery makes to the Chicago jazz scene—whether via his own music or via platforms he creates—he rarely pats himself … Read More
Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader In his typical fashion, reedist, composer, and bandleader Geof Bradfield deployed a veritable notebook of conceptual conceits when writing and formulating his new album Yes, and . . . … Read More
Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader The harp has always been an oddity in jazz music. Its two most notable practitioners, Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, were most active decades ago; both … Read More
Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader Chicago keyboardist Rob Clearfield forges a jazz-classical hybrid of weightless sophistication Keyboardist Rob Clearfield’s ubiquity on Chicago’s jazz scene says plenty about his talents and adaptability. He’s … Read More
by Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader Alto saxophonist Nick Mazzarella is one the city’s most focused improvisers, a fervent student of jazz history and a staunch adherent of avant-garde tradition. He’s … Read More
by Peter Margasak, The Chicago Reader Few musicians in Chicago have worked as diligently and rigorously to combine postbop with the voicings and compositional richness of classical music as bassist … Read More
